Inking surface cleanser



2 Sheets-Sheet l J. scHULTz INKING SURFACE cLEANsER Filed Aug. 2, 1926cJian. 29, 1929.

Jan; 29, 1929.

J. SCHULTZ INKING SURFACE CLEANSER Filed Aug. 2, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 245@ w H6. A

/A/vf/v TaxaP E y yb/53x51.

.Patented dan. 29., 1929.

--STES lrarer JOSEPH SCHUL-TZ, OF CLEVELAND, OHO.

INKING SURFACE CLEANSER.

Application led August A2, 1926. Serial No. 126,491.

My invention pertains to an inking surface cleanser and moreparticularly to an appliance for removingl ink of one color from theinking rollers of a printing press.

The manual removal of the ink from print-- ing rollers is even to-daystill being practiced, but is a laborious, untidy and time consunnngprocedure. Accordingly, the object of my invention is to provide amechanical device for cleansing the inking rolls and for accomplishingitin much less time. A further object has been the development ofanadaptation both for rotary and for flatbed presses. Still anotherobject has been the design of an appliance of the character stated whichwould automatically' convey the ink elsewhere as 1t is scraped from therolls or rollers-1n the exempliiication shown accomplished by a suctionagency. Scraping blade adjustments,` and in the case of use upon a flatbed press an intermittently operating shifting device constitute anotherfeature of my invent1on.

lt is to he realized that the scope of my ini vention comprehends rmanyequivalent constructions and some changes in practicing the method. Theshowing of the drawings and the particular description are merely aspecific exemplification.

Adverting to the drawings:

Figure l is a broken Iplan view of the essential cooperating elements ofa flat bed press showing my invention associated therewith.

Figure if is a side elevation viewed on line I'I-II of Figure I. 1

vFigure H1 is a cross-section on line III- III of Figure l1.

` Figure 1V is an enlarged cross-section on line IV-IV of Figure III.

Figure V is a fragmentary front elevation of a portion of a rotary pressshowingy a modifiedv form of my scraping and suction head in operatingposition with respect thereto.

Figure VI is an end elevation on line Vfl-VI of Figure V.

Figure VH is a vertical cross-section on line VII--VII of Figure V. l

Figure VIII isan enlarged cross-sectional view of the scraping andsuction head.

`Figure IX is a plan section on line IX--IX -of 'Figure VIII drawn to areduced scale.

The figures on Sheet 1 illustrate the association of my appliance withso much of a standard flat-bed press as suffices tol make clearv thecooperating arrangement. r\l`he press includes a frame 1, carrying nearone end a series of inking rollers 2 beneath which a carriage 3reciprocates in a manner so well known to the art as not to requireeither detailed illustration or further explanation. Two parallel sidemembers 3. of the carriage 3 are fashioned, according-to my inventionwith depressed upper track surfaces 4 merging at opposite ends withinclined track surfaces 5 and G respectively. Near opposite ends of vthecarriage 3 l provide upstanding fingers 7 and 8 .for a purpose to behereinafter explained. The carriage supports an inking plate 9 and atype bed 10 both of which when actuated will effect Contact with therollers 2, whereby ink of any particular color is periodicallytransferred thereto.

Upposite sides of the frame 1 carry opposed brackets 11, on which aremounted a pair of lstructures 12, of peculiar formation to includevertical openings, on which are slidably mounted a pair of blocks 13respectively adapted tobe held in a raised position by pins 13aoccupying registering holes in the structures 12 and blocks 13, eachcarrying on its lower end a roller 14 adapted to rotate in engagementwith the upper surfaces of the side members of the carriage 3 and inengagem'ent with ythe surfaces 4, -5 and 6 thereof, duringthelreciprocation of the carriage. 1t should be understood thatI wheneither of `the sloping surfaces 5 or the sloping-surfaces `/6 engage therollers 14, the blocks 13 Will be raised or lowered depending upon theinverse directions of movement, indicated 'by thel arrows in Figure- II.Each of the blocks 13 carries a pair of divaricatinrr arms 15 in whichset screws 16 are adjilstaibly mounted to converge in an upwarddirection along line's forming an angle of nearly ninety degrees. y,

Mounted in the upper portions of the blocks 13, so as to extend acrossthe carriage 3, isa shaft-17 which is provided near each end with anextension 18 carrying a lever 19 which is re-actingly connected with adownwardly extending spring to a point 20 on the block 13 and whichpoint is located in` the Vertical axial plane of the shaft 17. Thefunction ofthe spring 20 is a common expedient wherebyany structurecarried by the shaft 17 will be pulled and yieldingly held toward oneside or the other of the dead centerposition. The structure composing apart of my cleansing appliance is xedly carried upon, so as toturn'with,the shaft 17 and comprises, as exemplifieda frame 21 extending from sideto side. The frame 21 is of hollow construction and a suction pipe 22enters the top thereof near one end to communicate with one portion 23of `a manifold arrangement of passages. The duct 23 com municates at itslower middle point or inlet end with an enlarged hollowed portion 24 inwhich are arranged a row of baiiies 25 properly arranged and dimensionedto equalize the suction effect lengthwise of the structure, which is tosay, crosswise of the carriage 3. Scrapers 26 and 27 are secured onopposite sides of the frame 2l. by means of screws 28 which will permitof effecting adjustment by reason of passino through slots in theScrapers. As is/to be Observed in Figures IV, the edges of the blades 26and 27 project a short distance beyond the lower end of the frame 21 andare intended alternately to scrape the inking plate`9 each during onedirection of travel of the latter, as will be described. Projecting fromopposite ends of the 'scraper carrying frame 21 are lugs 29, shown inFigures I and III, with whichv the lingers 7 and 8 are respectivelyadapted periodically to engage. It is to be understood that a suitablesuction agency or exhaust fan, not shown, is to be operatively connectedwith the pipe 22.

The operation is as follows:

After a printing job has been run in one color and it is desired toprepare the press for printing with a different color ,of ink mycleansing appliance may be put into service by attaching it or by,shifting a part or parts thereof from any `previously chosen inutileposition. When the parts of my cleanser are connected for operation withthe scraping elements 26 and 27 properly adjusted and their oscillatingrange of movement properly prescribed by the set screws 16, one or theother of the blades will scrape the inking plate or disc 9 during eachdlrectlon of its reciprocal travel. In the position in which thescraping appliance proper appears in full lines inlFigure II the inkingplate 9 will be moving in the direction indicated by that one of the twoarrows illustrated in Figure II which isto the right, whereas, duringthe time that the inking plate is traveling in the opposite direction orto the left and being scraped the blade '26 will be functionating whileits supporting frame 21 occupies the position shown in dotted lines inFigure II. It is, of course, essential that the scraping blades do notcome into contact with the type form 10 and it is for the purpose ofavoiding such contact that the blocks 13 are vertically slidable and theinclined or sloping -surfaces 6 provided to raise the blocks 13 andhence the frame 21 with its blades when the carriage 3 is moving to theleft and the rollers v14 ride up the surfaces 6. It is also necessary toelevate the blocks 13 and raise the blades (preparatory to turning theshaft 17 and therefore swinging the frame 21) when the carriage 3reaches the limit of its movement vtoward the` right, as viewed inFigure III, and it is for accomplishing this that the inclined surfaces5 are provided. The periodical .swinging shift in position of the framev21 is automatically effected at each limit'of movement of the carriage 3in either direction and after' the rollers 14 have ridden over eitherthe surfaces 5 or the surfaces 6. Just prior to reaching the limit ofmovement to the right, the ngers 7 will impinge aofainst the lugs 29 andthrow the frame 21, lIrst against the action of the springs 20 and thenpast the` dead center `po sition and from its full line position inFigure II to the position in which it is shown in dotted lines. In sodoing the blade 26 will have been brought to a position in which it canscrape the plate 9 after the rollers I4 have descended the inclines 5during the return movement to the left at the end of which di-- rectionof movement the fingers 8 will in tu'rn engage the lugs 29 and againswing the frame 21 `to the position in which it is shown in full linesin Figure II preparatory to having the blade 27 functionate to scrapethe plate 9 after the rollers 14 have descended the inclines 6. In themeantime, the suction effect will have continually removed ink whilebeing scraped from the plate 9 through the hollowed portions 24, thencethrough the duct 23 and through the pipe 22 to asuitable catch basin.The adjustment permitted of the blades 26 and 27 is, of course, in orderto compensate for wear to the operating extremities thereof.

-The modification illustrated on Sheet 2, Figures V to IX inclusiverefers to a somewhat simpliiied adaptation to presses with rotatinginking rollers. A frame 30is illustrated fragmentarily as carrying, inappropiiate bearings 31, one inking roller 32 ofa series, theren'iainder of which need not be shown, though it should be understoodas in frictional Contact therewith. Adjacent each end of the rollcr32the frame 30'is formed with a downwardly sloping support to whichv isdetachably secured a bracket 34 through the agency of bolts 35. Thebrackets each include an upward extension 36 in which studs 37 are latchmounted for turning movement. The two studs 37 are part of amanifold-hollowed frame 38. Adjusting levers39 are'pivoted to ears 40 onthe brackets 34 and each is provided with a handle`41. Links 42 connectthe free ends of the levers 39 with the outer end ofthe frame 38 at 43whereby, as will be readily perceived, a swinging movement imparted tothe handles 41 will swingl the inner' end of the frame 38 or that edgeof it which is nearest the roller 32 toward or away from the latter andhence toward and away from the functionating position of a singlescraping blade carried by the frame 38 and to be now described. v

modeste The frame 38 is fashioned With a duct 44 with. one end of whicha suction pipe is connected. The opposite end of the duct 44communicates With -a manifold passage 46 formed-by the interpositioningof a portion 47 and the ends of the passage 46 communicates with inlets48 provided between minor portions or baiiies 49. A scraper 5() isadjustably mounted, by means of screws 5l passing through elongatedslots in the blade, to the 'lower side of the frame 38 and so that oneextremity 52 of the blade projects beyond the inner end of the frame.When a printing job is being run on the press the levers 4l will bedepressed to disengage the .blade from the roller 32 and aftercompletion of the job, when it may be desired to remove the ink, thelevers 41 are simply to be raised to enable the scraper Oprogressively.to scrape and remove the ink. l

l claim l. The combination with a flat-bed printing press having areciprocating inking plate, of a scraping appliance swingably mountedover and adapted to scrape said plate, springs for resisting theinitiation of a shift in position of said appliance, means for creatinga suction effect at the point of scraping application, the arrangementbeing such that said plate during its travel alternately shifts theposition of said appliance.

2. The method of cleansing an ink carrying surface of a printing presswhich consists in alternately scrapingl said surface by presentationthereagainst of a blade at a predetermined angle thereto and again bypresentation of another blade at a substantially similar angle Whilesaid surface reciprocates, while continuously applying a suction effectto the portion of said surface being scraped.

3. The method of cleansing aiiiat reciprocating inl( carrying surface ofa printing press which consists in scraping said surface by presentationthereagainst of one of two blades from above during one vdirection ofmovement, separating said blade and surface by simultaneously raisingsaid blades near one limit of vtravel of the surface and then bringingthe other blade into functionating position during movement in thelopposite direction.

4. In an appliance of the character described, the combination of anink-carrying member, a device adapted to scrape said member, means foractuating one of said parts relative to the other for. performing thescraping operation, means for effecting a separating movement betweensaid member and device and a suction nozzle carried by said deviceandhavingan opening adapted to assume a position of proximity to theportion of said member being scraped.

5. lin an appliance of the character described, the combination of aframe, an inky carrying member movably mounted thereon,

a device movably carried by said frame and adapted to scrape saidmember, means responsive to the movement of said member for actuatingsaid device in one direction.I automatically operating means forperiodically eti'ecting a separating lmovementof said device and suctionmeans operatively associated with said device.

(i. In an applfance of the character described, the combination of anink-carryingl member, a double blade scraper, means for reciprocatingsaid member, means forrcciprocating said blades transversely to themovement of said member and automatically operating means forperiodically effecting a swinging movement of said blades to permit themalternately to contact said member during its n'iovements in reversedirections.

7. The combination with a movable carriage of a printing press, of acleaning appliance, said appliance being adapted and arranged to befirst raised and then swung through anarc by said carriage devices onsaid carriage and appliance respectively adapted periodically to raisesaid appliance and different devices on said carriage and appliancerespectively adapted periodically to coact to swing said appliance.

8. The combination of a frame, a structure including an ink-carryingelement and movably mounted on/said frame, an appliance for scraping inkfrom said element and adapted to be periodically shifted in two distinctways with respect thereto at predetermined stages of travel of saidelement, and mechanisms for successively actuating said ap pliance firstin one Way and then in another.

9. The combination With a flat-bed printing press having a reciprocatinginking plate, of a scraping appliance movably mounted over and adaptedto scrape said plat-e, means for creating a suction effect at the pointof scraping application, and means including cooperating devices on saidplate and appliance respectively adapted during the travel of the formerautomatically to shift the position of said appliance.

10. rlhe combination with a flat-bed printing press'. having areciprocating inking carriage fashioned With track surfaces of differentelevation, aroller structure adapted to contact one of said tracksurfaces and to" rise or fall according to the elevation of the tracksurface moving in engagement With it, a scraping appliance swingablymounted on said roller structure and adapted to be turned through apredetermined arc when said structure is in a raised position and.distinct automatically operating means-for swinging said 'appliance atprescribed operating intervals.

ll. The combination With a flat-bed print.

ing press having a reciprocating inking carriage symmetrically fashionedon opposite sides with traclc surfaces of different elevation, fixedbrackets, roller structures mounted lll() formovement on said. bracketsand adapted to contact said track surfaces and also adapted to rise orfall according to the elevation of the track surface moving inengagement with it, a shaft mounted in said roller structures, ascraping appliance mounted on said shaft and adapted to be turnedthrough a predetermined arc when said shaft is in a raised position anddistinct automatically operating means includingperiodically:Jengagealile parts on said carriage and appliance forswingingY the latter near each limit ot' movement of said carriage.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination of aprinting carriage, a structure disposed crosswise of said carriage andmovable relatively thereto, said structure including a pair of spacedstops, a scrap, ing appliance pivotally lmounted on said structurel forswinging movement between said stops and including ascraping element andprojecting members carried by said carriage and appliance respectivelyadapted periodically to engage to effect a swinging shift in position ofsaid appliance from one stop to the other.

13. In an appliance of the character de-` scribed, the combination of aframe, a carriage reciprocably mounted thereon, blocks reciprocablymounted at opposite sides of said trame for movement toward and awayfrom said carrfage, spaced stops on said blocks, a scraping applianceincluding a shaft mounted to turn on said blocks and between said stops,a lever on said shaft, a spring connecting the tree end of said leverwith said trame and automatically operating means for periodicallyswingng said appliance from one stop to the other.

14. In an appliance of the character de-l scribed, the combination of aframe, a carriage reciprocably mounted thereon, blocks reciprocablymounted -at opposite sides of,

a movable ink-carrying element, a movablev support, a scraping appliancemovably mounted on said su pport adjacent to said element and adapted toscrape the latter, automatically operating means for moving said supportand means including cooperating de vices on said element and appliancerespectively7 adapted during travel of the former automatically to shiftthe position of said appliance relative to said support.

16. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair otstructures disposed crosswise of each other and movable in relativelytransverse directions, a scraping element pivotally mounted on one otsaid structures and adapted to be swung through a predetermined arcabout its pivotal axis and a tension spring arranged alternately toswing to and beyond a dead center position in response to the swing ofsaid scraping cle ment and thereby to urge or resist the movement ofsaid scraping element about its pivotal axis.

Signed by me, this 27 th dif July, 1.926.

JOSEPH SCI-IULTZ.

